Heat treating apparatus for recovering lithume carbonate and an apparatus for recovering lithume carbonate using the same

Abstract

A heat treatment apparatus used in a process of recovering lithium carbonate from a waste cathode material and a lithium carbonate recovery apparatus using the same are provided. The heat treatment apparatus includes a heat treatment furnace having an inlet through which an object to be treated is input and an outlet through which the heat-treated object is discharged, a support section rotatably supporting the heat treatment furnace, a burner provided in the heat treatment furnace to supply combustion gas to the heat treatment furnace, and an exhaust gas re-supply device re-supplying a portion of the combustion gas discharged from the heat treatment furnace to the heat treatment furnace, wherein the heat treatment furnace is divided into a first region in which the inlet is disposed, a second region connected to the first region, and a third region connected to the second region and in which the burner is disposed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat treatment apparatus for recovery of lithium carbonate, the apparatus comprising:
 a heat treatment furnace having an inlet through which an object to be treated is input and an outlet through which the heat-treated object is discharged;   a support section rotatably supporting the heat treatment furnace;   a burner provided in the heat treatment furnace to supply combustion gas to the heat treatment furnace; and   an exhaust gas re-supply device re-supplying a portion of the combustion gas discharged from the heat treatment furnace to the heat treatment furnace,   wherein the heat treatment furnace is divided into a first region in which the inlet is disposed, a second region connected to the first region, and a third region connected to the second region and in which the burner is disposed.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein 30 to 60% of the exhaust gas is re-supplied to the heat treatment furnace. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust gas supplied from the exhaust gas re-supply device is supplied to the first region and the second region in larger amount than in the third region. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one striking device disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the heat treatment furnace to apply an impact to the outer circumferential surface. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one striking device is arranged in a plurality of rows at intervals in a longitudinal direction of the heat treatment furnace. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein a greater number of striking devices are disposed in the third region than in the first and second regions. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat treatment furnace includes a plurality of baffles protruding in a radial direction. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein a greater number of baffles are disposed in the second region than in the first region. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the baffle disposed in the second region has a distal end bent obliquely with respect to the other portion. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the baffle disposed in the first or third region has a sheet plate shape. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a CO 2  supply device supplying carbon dioxide to the heat treatment furnace. 
     
     
         12 . A lithium carbonate recovery apparatus comprising:
 a heat treatment apparatus according to  claim 1 ;   a blower configured to re-supply the exhaust gas discharged from the heat treatment apparatus to the heat treatment furnace;   a pulverizing device configured to pulverize solid reactants discharged from the heat treatment apparatus;   a mixing device configured to mix reactant powder pulverized by the pulverizing device and distilled water;   a filter configured to filter solid metals from the mixture obtained by the mixing device; and   a solidification device configured to provide solid lithium carbonate by condensing/distilling/crystallizing liquid reactant that has passed through the filter.   
     
     
         13 . The lithium carbonate recovery apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising a cyclone disposed between the heat treatment apparatus and the blower to recover powder contained in the exhaust gas discharged from the heat treatment apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The lithium carbonate recovery apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the cyclone comprises:
 a first cyclone into which exhaust gas is introduced from the heat treatment furnace; and   a second cyclone into which the exhaust gas is introduced and having a cooling device cooling the introduced exhaust gas.   
     
     
         15 . The lithium carbonate recovery apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the blower selectively discharges a part of the introduced exhaust gas to the atmosphere. 
     
     
         16 . The lithium carbonate recovery apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising a support section supporting the heat treatment apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The lithium carbonate recovery apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the support section comprises:
 a first frame supporting the heat treatment furnace;   a second frame fixed to the ground on which the heat treatment apparatus is installed to support the first frame; and   first and second columns disposed between the first frame and the second frame,   wherein the second column has a different length than the first column.   
     
     
         18 . The lithium carbonate recovery apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein a length of the second column is variable. 
     
     
         19 . A heat treatment apparatus for recovery of lithium carbonate, the apparatus comprising:
 a heat treatment furnace having an inlet through which an object to be treated is input and an outlet through which the heat-treated object is discharged;   a support section rotatably supporting the heat treatment furnace;   a burner provided in the heat treatment furnace to supply combustion gas to the heat treatment furnace; and   at least one striking device disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the heat treatment furnace to apply an impact to the outer circumferential surface.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising an exhaust gas re-supply device re-supplying a portion of the combustion gas discharged from the heat treatment furnace to the heat treatment furnace.